Zone-controlled carriage return mechanism for typewriters



M rch 62 H. F. NICCOLLS 3,023,876

ZONE-CONTROLLED CARRIAGE RETURN MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed Dec. 27, 1960 DISABLING SWITCH 5 HOV-AC UNLATCHING SOLENOID l 32 30 l l LATCHING SOLENOID 3s -49 MANUAL RETURN KEY 37 HERBERT E NICCOLLS INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,023,876 ZONE-CONTROLLED CARRIAGE RETURN MECHANISM FOR TYPEERS Herbert F. Niccolls, Los Angeles, Calif. (4017 La Salle Ave., Culver City, Calif.) Filed Dec. 27, 1960, Ser. No. 78,372 9 Claims. (Cl. 197-66) This invention relates to carriage return mechanisms for typewriters, and particularly to mechanisms for automatically returning electrically-operated typewriter carriages from predetermined positions within a certain zone of carriage travel.

In my Patent No. 2,938,618, of May 31, 1960, I disclose and claim a mechanism for automatically returning the carriage ofone type of electrically-operated typewriter to its starting or left-hand margin position. The invention disclosed in this patent, No. 2,938,618, utilizes a latching-unlatching relay having multiple contacts in series with different contacts for respective keys which control the return mechanism. The present invention eliminates the multiple contacts by using a single contact, and also eliminates the multiple key contacts, thus providing a simpler and more economical mechanism. The invention also utilizes the regular key-actuating motor, the carriage being actuated by this motor at preselected times.

The principal object of the invention, therefore, is to facilitate the operation of electrically-operated typewriters.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved automatic carriage return mechanism for typewriters.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved carriage return mechanism for electrically-operated typewriters which is particularly simple and economical and which will return the typewriter carriage from any preselected point within a predetermined zone of travel of the carriage.

A better understanding of this invention may be had when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the single figure is a combination diagrammatic and schematic drawing embodying the invention.

Referring, now, to the drawing, a power supply 5, such as a llO-volt alternating current source, is connectable to an electrically operated typewriter, the automatic portion thereof embodied in this invention being connected over a disabling switch 6. The electrical typewriter is of the standard type which utilizes a motor for actuating the type bars when any key is depressed. A portion of this mechanism showing the period, comma, hyphen, and space bars, is illustrated, it being understood that the bars for the other symbols are actuated in a similar fashion.

Shown in perspective in the drawing are the four key bars just mentioned which are raised when actuated by keys not shown. When any one of the bars 12, 13, 14, and 15 is raised, a respective one of arms 18, 19, 20, and 21, having their ends resting on bars 12, 13, 14, and 15 will also be raised. The other ends of arms 18, 19, 20, and 21 are fixedly attached to a shaft 8 by screws 22. Thus, when any one of the bars 12, 13, 14 and 15 is raised, the shaft 8 will be rotated in bearings in shaft end supports 9 and 10, and an arm 24 will be raised to close electrical contacts 25. The arm 24 may be adjusted on the shaft 8 by a screw 26, the arm being biased by a spring 27 to maintain contacts 25 normally open. Thus, whenever any one of the bars 12, 13, 14, and 15 is actuated, the contacts 25 will close.

As disclosed in my above-mentioned patent, the invention utilizes a latching-unlatching relay having a latching solenoid 30 and an unlatching solenoid 31, this relay,

3,023,876 Patented Mar. 6, 1962 however, utilizing only a single contact switch 32. The latching solenoid 30 is energized over conductor 34 and conductor 35 when a carriage-operated switch 36 is closed, the switch actuating element 37 of switch 36 being adjusted within the usual five, siX, or seven spaces before the line termination. When the switch 36 is closed and .the latching solenoid 30 energized, contacts 32 close and a warning signal bell 40 is energized.

Now, the first actuation of any one of .bars 12, 13, 14, and 15 will close contacts 25 by arm 24, which will energize a clutch 41 over conductors 42, contacts 25, conductor 43, contacts 32, conductor 44, and solenoid 45. Since the key-actuating motor 47 is running continuously from the normal -volt A.C. supply when switch 49 is closed, the actuation of clutch 41 will return the carriage to its starting or left-hand position. The carriage may be manually returned atany time desired by impressing the manual return key 48 which actuates the clutch 41.

When the carriage returns to its starting or left-hand position, a carriage-actuating switch element-50 will close a switch 51, which will energize the unlatching solenoid 31 over conductor 34, contacts of switch 51 and conductor 53 to open contacts 32. Any key may then be actuated without energizing solenoid 45 until switch 36 is closed at a predetermined point mentioned above.

The present invention is suitable for use with the modern type of electric typewriters, wherein a continuously running motor is used for actuating the type bars and the carriage return. It is understood that during the carriage return, the platen may be rotated one, two or three lines by the motor according to the operators setting of the mechanism. Although certain key bars have been described for operating the carriage return, it is to be understood that other key bars may be used if desired.

I claim:

1. An automatic carriage return mechanism for a typewriter comprising a motor adapted to be operated continuously to actuate the type bars and the return of said carriage, a single switch, a latching-unlatching relay for closing and opening said switch, a clutch for connecting said motor to said carriage, and a second switch adapted to be closed by the actuation of certain typewriter bars for actuating said clutch when said firstmentioned switch is also closed.

2. An automatic carriage return mechanism for a typewriter in accordance with claim 1 in which said certain typewriter bars are mounted upon a common shaft, said last-mentioned switch being closed by the rotation of said common shaft.

3. An automatic carriage return for a typewriter comprising a motor adapted to be continuously energized during the operation of said typewriter, a carriage return mechanism for said typewriter, a clutch for connecting said motor to said carriage return mechanism at predetermined times, a plurality of key bars, a shaft adapted to be rotated by actuation of any one of said key bars, a single switch adapted to be closed by the rotation of said shaft, a latching-unlatching relay having latching and unlatching portions, and a second single switch adapted to be closed when the latching portion of said relay is energized and opened when the unlatching portion of said relay is energized, the closing of said second switch setting up an energizing circuit for said clutch over said closed first-mentioned switch.

4. An automatic carriage return for a typewriter in accordance with claim 3 in which said portions of said latching-unlatching relay are controlled by switches actuated by elements on said carriage.

5. An electrically-operated carriage return mechanism for a typewriter adapted to be connected to a power supply comprising a plurality of key-actuated bars, a single switch adapted to be closed by the actuation of any one of said bars, a latching-unlatching relay having a single set of electrical contacts, a pair of carriage-actuated switches, said power supply beingconnectable to said relay over one of said pair of switches to close said contacts of said latching-unlatching relay and connectable over the other of said pair of switches to open said contacts of said latching-unlatching relay.

6. An electrically-operated carriage return mechanism in accordance with claim 5 in which a common shaft is provided for said plurality of key-actuated bars and rotatable thereby, said first-mentioned switch being closed and opened by the rotation of said shaft.

7. An electrically-operated carriage return mechanism in accordance with claim 5 in which are provided a motor for actuating the type bars of said typewriter, a carriage return mechanism operable by said motor, a clutch for connecting said motor to said mechanism, and means for actuating said clutch, said means being energized over the closed contacts of said relay and the closed contacts of said first-mentioned switch.

8. An electrically-operated carriage return mechanism in accordance with claim 5 in which are provided a carriage return mechanism, a motor, and means for connecting said mechanism to said motor, said means being energized over the closed contacts of said relay and the closed contacts of said first-mentioned switch.

9. An electrically-energized typewriter having a motor adapted to run continuously when energized for returning the carriage of said typewriter to its starting position comprising a carriage return mechanism, means for manually and electrically connecting said mechanism to said motor at preselected times, a relay having a single set of electrical contacts adapted to be closed and opened by said carriage return mechanism at different positions thereof, a single switch adapted to be closed by the actuation of certain keys of said typewriter, and means for electrically actuating said connecting mechanism over a circuit including said electrical contacts and said switch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 473,236 Reed Apr. 19, 1892 1,368,599 Bates Feb. 15, 1921 2,938,618 Niccolls May 31, 1960 

